Luggage case

ABSTRACT

A luggage case comprises two opposed sections hinged together and having confronting edges adapted to interfit when the case is closed. The confronting edges of the sections are formed by matched bent edge strips extending around the sections; and each has a channel where a tongue strip extending around the confronting edges of the sections has one edge thereof permanently inter-locked in one of the channels, the inter-lock being the product of simultaneous bending of the tongue and edge strip, and the other edge of the tongue strip releasably interfitting in the other of the channels when the case is closed. Means is provided for releasably retaining the sections in closed relation.

D United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,780,838 Slan Dec. 25, 1973 LUGGAGECASE 3,286,800 11/1966 Slan 190/49 75 I t Sl 1 men or 'gfi Toronto OmanoPrzmary Exammer-Donald F. Norton Attorney'Douglas S. Johnson [73]Assignee: Dominion Luggage Co. Limited,

Toronto, Canada 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Oct. 29, 1970 A luggage casecomprises two opposed sections hinged together and having confrontingedges adapted [21] Appl 85l64 to interfit when the case is closed. Theconfronting Related US. Application Data edges of the sections areformed by matched bent [62] Division ofSer. N0. 784,510, Nov. 19, 1968,Pat. No. edge tips extending amund the sectimsi and each 3,579,804. hasa channel where a tongue strip extending around the confronting edges ofthe sections has one edge 52 U.S. c1. 190/49 thereof permanentlyinter-locked in one of the chem- [51] Int. Cl. A45c 13/04 nels, theinter-l0ek being the p ct of multaneous [58] Field of Search 190/28, 49,50 bending of the g e and ge p, and the t er edge of the tongue stripreleasably interfitting in the [56] R fer Cit d other of the channelswhen the case is closed. Means UNITED STATES PATENTS is provided forreleasably retaining the sections in 3,448,838 6/1969 Maile 190 49closed Manon 3,198,299 8/1965 Axtell 190/49 X 4 Claims, 13 Drawingfigures PATENIEI] DEC 2 5 I975 MEI-1N4 LUGGAGE CASE This application isa division of application Ser. No. 784,510, filed Nov. 19, 1968, (nowUS. Pat. No. 3,579,804).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to improvements in luggage cases and in their method ofmanufacture.

2. Description of the Prior Art Luggage cases normally comprise a firstor bottom section and a second or top section hinged together with thesections meeting along the edge when the case is closed, and suitablelocks are provided to lock the sections together in the closed position.

Preferably, in an effort to obtain a dustproof case, the sections arearranged to interlock throughout the extent of their opposing orconfronting .edges and in order to provide an accurate interlock and aproper closure the sections must precisely match one with the other.

With a view to achieving the desired interlock, it has been the practiceto form the confronting edges of the case sections of strips of extrudedmaterial such as aluminum or magnesium alloy which are bent around thecase, the one strip normally having a groove running around its exposedconfronting edge and the other strip having or carrying a projection ortongue member running around its exposed confronting edge adapted toseat in the groove of the opposite strip when the case is closed.

It will be readily understood that one of the problems encountered insuch cases is to maintain the mating accuracy of the groove and tonguemembers or portions particularly around the corners of the case wherethe strips are bent, such bending tending to stretch, crease orotherwise distort the'material of the strip so that the accuracy of thegroove is impaired or the tongue member or element is distorted out ofalignment with the groove.

Additionally, it has been found that bending of complicated stripsections particularly those carrying the intended mating tongue memberis difficult particularly when a high degree of accuracy is required toprovide a proper case closure. This latter problem has led to the use inmany instances of a separate tongue member so that the one strip whichis intended to carry the tongue member for resting in the groove of theopposing strip is formed as a relatively simple section capable of morereadily being bent around the case and the separate tongue member isthen attached thereto.

This latter solution of the bending problem however necessitates thebending of a third member to conform to the peripheral configuration ofthe case and does not solve the problem of obtaining a precisely matinggroove and tongue interlock since the tongue member will invariably havedifferent distortion characteristics.

Moreover, resorting to a separate tongue member requires a furthermanufacturing operation in attaching the tongue to the relevant stripand attaching it in such a way as to provide strength as well asaccuracy.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention tosuccessfully solve the above problems, and to provide a very efficientand simple method of forming the interlocking edges of the case sectionto provide a precisely accurate edge mating or interlocking between theopposing sections when the case is closed.

In this same vein it is also the object of the invention to provide aluggage case with precisely interlocking opposing sections to simplifyclosing and to provide a fully dustproof case.

Another object of theinvention is to enable the use of strips of simplereadily bendable cross section to make up the confronting edges of thecase section to greatly facilitate manufacture.

In this connection still another object is to enable a separate readilybendable tongue member to be utilized and to effect the permanentlocking of the tongue member with one of the strips and the accurateinterfit of the same tongue member with the groove of the other strip bymeans of the bending operation thereby eliminating a difficult step inmanufacturing presently required and at the same time providing a muchmore accurate tongue and groove interlock than has heretofore beenachieved.

The invention will be fully understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view brokenaway illustrating the edge and tongue strips and the manner in whichthey are assembled preparatory to being clamped.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a smaller scale illustrating the edgeand tongue strips in clamped relation.

Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the sequenceof bending operations in the bending of the clamped strips into theframe shape of the finished case.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical cross section of the strips after bendingillustrating the permanent interlock between the one edge strip and thetongue strip and the releasable interfit between the tongue strip andthe other edge strip.

FIG. 8 is a broken away perspective view illustrating the elongation ofthe edge strip in which the tongue strip is permanently interlocked ascompared to the opposing edge strip.

FIG. 9 is a view of the strips following trimming off of the permanentlyinterlocked edge strip with the strips joined in continuous frame form.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 10-10 ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the assembly of theshell, lock and handle members to the frame members formed by thestrips.

FIG. 12 is a part perspective part vertical sectional view showing themanner in which the shells are attached to the edge strips and in whichthe wrap around strips masks the attached means.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a case manufactured in accordance withand embodying the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings,FIG 13 illustrates a luggage case constructed in accordance with andembodying the invention. In general the case comprises a pair ofopposing sections'l, la, hinged together as at 2 and presentingconfronting edges generally designated at 3 and 3a adapted to interfitwhen the case is closed.

The method of manufacture and the construction of the confronting edges3 and 3a, is one important aspect of the invention, which isparticularly illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 inclusive.

With reference to FIG. 1 the confronting edges 3 and 3a of the sections1 and la are formed from two longitudinal edge strips 4 and 40preferably formed as extrusions of a light metal such as aluminum ormagnesium and a tongue strip 5 preferably of a stiff vinyl or otherplastic material having some measure of resiliency.

The edge strip 4 has an attaching leg 6 and a right angularly extendingfacing leg 7 which is provided at its end remote from its attaching leg6 with a channel 8 having a restricted mouth or throat 9 openingoutwardly of the facing leg 7. The attaching leg 6 preferably isextruded to present a wide channel 10 extending along its upper surfaceand bordered by undercut edges 1 l and 12. The edge strip 4a is verysimilar to the edge strip 4 having an attaching leg 6a, a facing leg 7aand an upper channel 10a, having undercut edges 11a and 12a. The channel13 presented by the facing leg 7a, however is formed with awidedivergent mouth defined by walls 14 and 15 which diverge towards themouth of the channel.

In association with the edge strips 4 and 4a, the tongue strip 5 hasalong one longitudinal edge a locking enlargement or bead 16 havingsomewhat the shape of an arrow head and defining shoulders 17.'The beadI6 is of a cross sectional shape to correspond with the cross sectionalshape of the channel 8.

The opposite longitudinal edge of the tongue strip 5, also preferablyhas an edge bead 18 of corresponding shape, the beads in addition toproviding the functions hereinafter described also serving to increasethe stiffness of the tongue strip.

In the manufacture of the case it will be understood that the edgestrips 4 and 4a will be cut to a length such that on bending they willprovide the requisite peripheral configuration and dimensions of thecase. After cutting the edge strips 4 and 4a to length, a tongue strip 5also cut to the appropriate length is assembled with the edge strip 4 bysliding its bead 16 into the channel 8 with the mouth of the channelengaging behind the shoulders 17 to provide a snug interlock between thestrips 4 and 5. The other edge strip 4a is then assembled with theinterlocking strips 4 and 5 so that the edge bead 18 of strip 5 isreceived in the divergent mouthed channel 13. The strips 4, 4a, and 5thus assembled are clamped together by means of suitable clamps 19. Ifit is desired that one edge of the case might be in the form of ashallow arc, the clamp strips 4, 4a and 5 are first bowed as illustratedin FIG. 3. Subsequently these strips while still clamped are bent as at20, FIG. 4, to form one corner of the case, as at 21, FIG. 5, to form 'asecond corner of the case and as at 22 and 23, FIG. 6, to form theremaining corners of the case.

In the bending operation it willbe understood that the bending willproceed successively from bend to 23 while the strips are clamped withthe bending of each successive bend being away from the previous bend asillustrated so that any tendency of the tongue strip 5 to elongateduring the bending operation will be accomodated by the flow of thetongue strip in the channels 8 and 13 relative to the edge strips 4 and4a,

outwardly of the bend. With this sequence there will be no crowding ofthe tongue strip between bends, that is no longitudinal compression ofthe tongue strip between bends. The above described bending sequenceeliminates this longitudinal compression but it will be appreciated thatso long as bending proceeds away from the previous bending, otherbending sequences may be used.

By bending the strips 4, 4a and 5 while in clamped relationship, thesimultaneous bending of the strips provides precisely matched bends inthe strips for the ultimate guarantee of accurate matching of theconfronting edges of the case and the proper interfit of the casesections.

It has been discovered that by making a snug fit or interlock betweenthe one strip 4 and the tongue strip 5, the bending operation itselfthrough the distortion of the walls of the channel 8 relative to thetongue 5 particularly around the corners, causes an effective clampingof the tongue by the walls of the channel 8 and particularly by the lips24 which become anchored in behind the bead shoulders 17 as particularlyseen in FIG. 7.

In contrast the relatively free fit of the bead 18 in the channel 13 andthe divergence of the channel 13 and the taper of the head 18 enablesany distortions in the metal of the strip 4a under bending to beaccomodated without an actual interlock being effected so that a snugaccurate interfit between the bead l8 and the channel 13 is achieved onbending but the strip 4a is readily separable from the tongue 5.

Following the bending operation, the strips are then unclamped and theremoval of the edge strip 4a from the now permanently interlocked strips4 and 5 releases the tongue strip 5 from any restraint and it has beenfound that the tongue strip elongates slightly on re lease.

After the strip 4a has been unclamped and removed, to free theinterlocked strips 4 and 5 to assume an unrestrained position, the strip4a is again assembled with the strips 4 and 5 and clamped in position.

Under the bending operation strip 4 elongates more than the edge strip4a. This elongation appears to be caused by the fact that the metal ofthe strip 4 in the area of the channel 8 once it reaches the limit ofcompression of the tongue bead 16 is restrained from further deformationin a direction perpendicular to the tongue and as a result the metal inthe strip flows along the tongue. On the other hand, because during thebending operation the divergent walls of the channel 13 can act on thetapered head 18 to expel the tongue from the channel there is not thesame restriction to the deformation of the metal of the strip 4a in adirection perpendicular to the tongue and its elongation is thereforesubstantially less.

FIG. 8 illustrates the relative difference in the lengths of the strips4 and 4a so that a further step following the reclamping of the strip isto trim of? the strip 4 so that it matches the strip 4a and the stripscan be closed as illustrated in FlG. 9. The ends of the strips 4 arethen secured together by means of a joiner clip 25 secured by the rivets26. The ends of the strip 4a are secured together by being riveted toone element 27 of one of the hinges generally designated at 2. Next thelocking tongues 28 illustrated in FIG. 13 may be riveted in position andholes 29 drilled in the tongue strip 5 preparatory to securing the otherelement or arm 30 of the hinge 2 to the interlocked strips 4 and 5. Alsothe necessary openings for the fasteners for the locks 31 illustrated inFIG. 11 may be formed in the tongue strip 5 while the strips are stillclamped in assembled relation.

Next the strips are separated. The strips '4 and 5 now in effectconstitute in the form of a generally rectilinear frame, the confrontingedge 3 of one of the sections, and the strip 4a constitutes, again inthe form of a generally rectilinear frame, the confronting edge 3a ofthe other section.

In order to give support for the hinges 2 a backing strip 32 is appliedto the inside of the tongue strip 5 as illustrated in FIG. 11 and thehinge elements are fastened to the tongue strip 5 as reinforced by thebacking strip 32 by means of suitable fasteners 33 passing through thetongue holes 29 and through the backin strip 32.

The walls of the sections 1 and la of the case are preferably formed ofmoulded plastic shells 34. These shells preferably having their insidessurfaces coated with glue are assembled with each of the confrontingedge frames 3 and 3a by stitching as illustrated in FIG. 12. In thisFigure it will be seen that the shell 34 seats under the attaching leg 6of the strip 4 and abuts behind the channel 8. Wire stapling orstitching indicated at 35 anchors the shell to the attaching legs 6.Similarly, the other shell is attached to the leg 6a of the strip 4a.The shells are then lined with the lining adhering to the glue-carryinginner surfaces of the shell and the requisite pockets 36, retainingstraps 37, dividing curtain 38 with swivel locks 39, or other interiordecor are added.

To cover the staples 35 and other fasteners such as 26 and 33, a wraparound strip 40 is mounted in each of the channels 10, 10a formed in theouter face of the attaching legs 6 and 6a respectively with the edges ofthe strip 40 being interlocked beneath the undercut edges 11 and 12 and1 la and 12a as exemplified in FIG. 12.

The locks 31 may be conveniently mounted on the tongue strip portion 5opposite to the hinges 2 and an appropriate lock cover plate 41 forminga handle mount applied and the handle 42 may then be attached inposition.

It will be understood that the precise sequence of steps is not materialto the invention and will depend upon the interior decor of the case andthe manner of mounting the various hardware components within the case.

It will be understood that the manufacture of the case in accordancewith the method disclosed will provide precisely matched bends at thecorners 20, 21, 22, and

23 which can only be achieved with high precision when the bending iscarried out with the strips 4, 4a and 5 in interlocked relation. It willalso be understood that the actual operation of bending provides theinterlock between the strip 4 and the strip 5 without requiring any,additional operation for attaching a tongue to one of the edge strips.

It is important that the tongue strip be a member separate from the edgestrips 4 and 4a since it is extremely It will be understood that themethod of manufacture leads to a case which has a more accurate closingaction than previous cases which heretofore have not had preciselymatched comers, or precisely interfitting members capable of providingan accurate fit completely matched around the case at all times.

It will be understood that the actual configuration of the case may beother than the simple rectilinear form illustrated and variousmodifications and alterations may be made in the section shapes of thestrips and other details without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A luggage case comprising two opposed sections hinged together andhaving confronting edges adapted to interfit when the case is closed,the confronting edges of said sections having matched bends and aprecisely registering interlock constituted by the product ofsimultaneously bending of an assembled pair of edge strips and a tonguestrip, each of the edge strips having an attaching leg and a rightangularly extending facing leg formed with a channel remote from saidattaching leg, said strips being so assembled prior to bending so thatsaid tongue strip has one edge snugly interfitted in one of saidchannels constituting a locking channel and the other edge is looselyinterfitted in the other of said channels, whereupon the product ofsimultaneous bending produces an assembly whereby said tongue strip hasone edge locked in said locking channel including around said matchedbends and is substantially free of lengthwise compression between saidbends, and the other edge of said tongue strip is fitted accurately intosaid other channel around said bends when the case is closed.

2. A luggage case as claimed in claim 1 in which said edge strips areformed of metal extrusions and said tongue strip is fonned of a stiffplastic having a measure strip permanently inter-locked in one of saidchannels and the other edge of said tongue strip releasably interfittingin the other of said channels when the case is closed; the edge of saidtongue strip permanently interlocked in said one channel having ashouldered enlargement and the mouth of said latter channel being closedon said tongue strip behind the shoulder of said enlargement to locksaid shouldered enlargement in said latter channel, the gripping of saidtongue strip edge by said latter channel being the product ofsimultaneous bending of said tongue and edge strip and constituting thesole means of interlock; and means for 'releasably retaining saidsections in closed relation. 4. A luggage case comprising two opposedsections hinged together and having confronting edges adapted tointerfit when the case is closed;

by matched bent edge strips extending around said sections, each of saidedge strips having a channel with said channels being disposed in spacedfacing registration when the case is closed;

a tongue strip extending around the confronting edges of said sectionswith one edge of said tongue strip permanently inter-locked in one ofsaid channels and the other edge of said tongue strip releasablyinterfitting in the other of said channels when the case is closed;

each of said edge strips comprising a peripherally extending attachingleg portion extending latterly away from the confronting edge of itsrespective section and a facing leg portion extending right angularlyinwardly of said attaching leg portion to define a substantial depth tothe confronting edge of its respective section;

and each said strip channel is formed in its respective facing legportion adjacent to the inner edge thereof, said edge strips beingformed as a metal extrusion and said tongue strip being formed of arelatively stiff plastic having a measure of resiliency.

and means for releasably retaining said sections in closed relation.

# 1- It s

1. A luggage case comprising two opposed sections hinged together andhaving confronting edges adapted to interfit when the case is closed,the confronting edges of said sections having matched bends and aprecisely registering interlock constituted by the product ofsimultaneously bending of an assembled pair of edge strips and a tonguestrip, each of the edge strips having an attaching leg and a rightangularly extending facing leg formed with a channel remote from saidattaching leg, said strips being so assembled prior to bending so thatsaid tongue strip has one edge snugly interfitted in one of saidchannels constituting a locking channel and the other edge is looselyinterfitted in the other of said channels, whereupon the product ofsimultaneous bending produces an assembly whereby said tongue strip hasone edge locked in said locking channel including around said matchedbends and is substantially free of lengthwise compression between saidbends, and the other edge of said tongue strip is fitted accurately intosaid other channel around said bends when the case is closed.
 2. Aluggage case as claimed in claim 1 in which said edge strips are formedof metal extrusions and said tongue strip is formed of a stiff plastichaving a measure of resiliency.
 3. A luggage case comprising two opposedsections hinged togeTher and having confronting edges adapted tointerfit when the case is closed; the confronting edges of said sectionsbeing formed by matched bent edge strips extending around said sections,each of said edge strips having a channel with said channels beingdisposed in spaced facing registration when the case is closed; a tonguestrip extending around the confronting edges of said sections with oneedge of said tongue strip permanently inter-locked in one of saidchannels and the other edge of said tongue strip releasably interfittingin the other of said channels when the case is closed; the edge of saidtongue strip permanently interlocked in said one channel having ashouldered enlargement and the mouth of said latter channel being closedon said tongue strip behind the shoulder of said enlargement to locksaid shouldered enlargement in said latter channel, the gripping of saidtongue strip edge by said latter channel being the product ofsimultaneous bending of said tongue and edge strip and constituting thesole means of interlock; and means for releasably retaining saidsections in closed relation.
 4. A luggage case comprising two opposedsections hinged together and having confronting edges adapted tointerfit when the case is closed; the confronting edges of said sectionsbeing formed by matched bent edge strips extending around said sections,each of said edge strips having a channel with said channels beingdisposed in spaced facing registration when the case is closed; a tonguestrip extending around the confronting edges of said sections with oneedge of said tongue strip permanently inter-locked in one of saidchannels and the other edge of said tongue strip releasably interfittingin the other of said channels when the case is closed; each of said edgestrips comprising a peripherally extending attaching leg portionextending latterly away from the confronting edge of its respectivesection and a facing leg portion extending right angularly inwardly ofsaid attaching leg portion to define a substantial depth to theconfronting edge of its respective section; and each said strip channelis formed in its respective facing leg portion adjacent to the inneredge thereof, said edge strips being formed as a metal extrusion andsaid tongue strip being formed of a relatively stiff plastic having ameasure of resiliency. and means for releasably retaining said sectionsin closed relation.